Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-03-08
NENT S4TTRDn-'S ELECTION.

Our citizens are 10 have an opportunity
10 decide. next Saturday. aS 10 the laws by
which they are to h. governed during the
next few years. Tie present system is
neither an unmiNed evil nor an unmiNei
good. The mayor has an opportunity To
make good round sum. annually. out of
fees. but nobody asserts that he does not do
fact inIerferes with the administration of
Justice or adds to the burden of the tax
payer. The fees-whoever gets them
come out of the pockets of law-breakerS-
not unfortunate people aS some aSsert-but
pappIe who deliberately. and often repeat
ellv. disooey the laws.
What is proposed. in the application of
the provisions. of the police judge
law, is that we shall have
police Judge. police prosecutor.
and a police clerk-all salaried Off
,,erS. Ii was intended that, with these
Officers. we should have an ornamental
mayor with small salary and with no
fees. but il is the opinion OF good lawyers
wha have legislative experience also, that
under the laws as they now stand We
should have the mayor continuing as at
present with salary and fees both, at the
sane time that the police court was in full
force. with three new salaried officers,
drawing their pay promptly at regular in
terCals.
Ii is quite true that the present council
or portion of its melnberS-pronise that
but moderate salaries shall be given To
theS officers. but there will be some change
in the council. as the result OF the April
election. and if the democrats should elect
and the police judge, prosecutor
and clerk-what will hinder its
members from putting uD the salaries 10 a
good. substantial figure for each officer?
And it may be said. here. that persons fit
for the several positions to be filled. must
have a good knowledge -of law and consid
cradle general ability-that is to say. they
must be persons of the sort that can COM
mand good salaries on general principles.
Then their salaries are to come out of the
pockets of the people, instead of oE Of the
pockets of law-hreakers. The fees collect
ed are to be covered into the treasury-it
is true-but how much they will aggregate
i yet 10 be seen. The probability is that
the expense 10 the psople will. in any event.
he greatly increased. Is il likely that the
ends Of justice will be any more efficiently
promoted? That is question each citizen
must answer for himself.
Then it seems likely-certainly possible |
that the new law will be knocked ont |
the first round. by a supreme court deci- |
SION
our citizens seem to have abundant ma |
terial-in the way Of facts and suggestions |
-.penable them 10 come To a conclusion as |
10 no V they Ought to vote next Saturday.
But. il may be asked-What are We to |
do # the police court law is defeated? The |
Re nedy for the existing complications. aris- |
mS from the conflict between a republican
major and a democratic council a 10 the {
apppintment of members of the police force /
and the fire department-are serious-and
ought to be removed. This can be done. in |
the event that the police court law
which seems 10 be fully satisfactory 10 no.
body-is defeated. by the procuring of TIE
prompt passage of law-which can be
put through in a day or two, at longest
which shall provide for non-partisan pO-
lice and tire ommiSSi1n-cUmpoSed Of two
T publicans and two democrats-in all casts
where councils may decide to give the law
local application and enforcement. This
would provide against such conflicts be-
tween the executive and legislative powers
- the city as now exist, and take partisan
pOiitlcs quite out of police
and fire department matters. Then the
MAYOR could have fair salary
such a. would command the ser
vices of good man; his fees could be
Il rned over to the city-the police and fire
90 nmission would give us the best men in /,
both departments, irrespective of their poll
ties or qualities as partisan hustlers, and
all good. well-meaning and law-abidimg cit ,
izens would be serene and happy. |,
Citizens of Springfield II, after all the
light you have been able TO get from yari-
,us sources, you think the police court law
: better thing for this city than the sys- ;
em now in force, vote for it; but If you do |